Children who have met Paddington at the Savoy Theatre, or grown up with In the Night Garden, Zingzillas and Moon & Me, already know Tahra Zafar's work, even if they have never heard her name. Today Action for Children's Arts announces that Zafar will receive the 2026 J.M. Barrie Lifetime Achievement Award. She joins previous recipients Sir Quentin Blake, Sir Philip Pullman CBE, Malorie Blackman OBE, Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE, Michael Foreman OBE and Jamila Gavin MBE.

The 22nd J.M. Barrie Awards will be presented on 12 November 2026 at 2.00pm in the Delfont Room at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London. The ceremony brings together artists, educators and organisations who enrich children's lives through the arts. Named after the creator of Peter Pan, the awards honour work that leaves a lasting mark on childhood.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Tahra Zafar

Zafar designed Paddington himself for Paddington the Musical, now playing in the West End. This year she shared the Olivier Award for Best Costume Design with Gabriella Slade for the production. Across more than 30 years she has created costumes, puppets, creatures and effects for theatre, film, television and live events. Her work for children includes the puppets for In the Night Garden, Zingzillas, The Adventures of Abney and Teal and Moon & Me. These are characters that a generation of children has loved, laughed with and fallen asleep to.

Outstanding Contribution Award: Ellie Griffiths

Ellie Griffiths has been Artistic Director of Oily Cart since 2019. Oily Cart is the world's pioneering sensory theatre company for children and young people. Her work rests on a simple conviction: every child, whatever their needs, deserves to experience the arts. Griffiths founded the Upfront Performance Network, which now connects more than 1,000 sensory theatre makers worldwide. She researched the future of sensory theatre as a Winston Churchill Fellow, and her work has been commissioned in Japan, Sweden, Australia and the USA. In 2021 she became the first UK artist to receive ASSITEJ's International Award for Artistic Excellence. This year When the World Turns, which she co-wrote and directed, won two Offies.

Education Award: English Touring Opera Learning & Participation

English Touring Opera's Learning & Participation department takes opera where it is least expected. Every year it commissions and tours new work for Key Stage 2 audiences and for children and young people with additional educational needs. This work reaches theatres, schools and libraries across the country, and has recently been performed at the Royal Opera House, Garsington Opera and the Luxembourg Philharmonie. Through ETO Perform, secondary school students create a brand-new opera alongside a professional director, composer, singer and stage manager. Through ETO Lyrics, students in Alternative Provision Units write lyrics and original music with classical and contemporary practitioners. Many of these young people are discovering for the first time that their creative voice matters.

Janet Robertson, Chair of Action for Children's Arts, said:

J.M. Barrie understood that childhood imagination is not a small thing. It is where every one of us first learns to wonder. This year's winners carry that belief into everything they do. Tahra Zafar has given children characters they will carry with them for life, from the Night Garden to Paddington himself. Ellie Griffiths has made sure that no child is left outside the door to any arts space. English Touring Opera is showing young people, often in the places they least expect it, that opera can belong to them. At a time when the arts are too often squeezed out of children's lives, these winners remind us what is at stake and what is possible. We are proud to celebrate them.

Thursday 6th November, 2025. The 21st annual J.M. Barrie Awards were held on 6th November at Prince of Wales Theatre, London. Charity Action for Children’s Arts (ACA) awarded this year's winners; The Lifetime Achievement Award to Andrew Davenport and Anne Wood CBE, The Outstanding Achievement Award was awarded to The Story Museum, Oxford and The Education Award to Dame Dr Maggie Aderin Pocock Phd.

Winners of the J.M. Barrie Lifetime Achievement Award share the stage with the likes of Sir Quentin Blake KBE, Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE, Michael Foreman OBE, Malorie Blackman OBE, Jamila Gavin MBE and Sir Philip Pullman CBE. The awards were presented by young presenters Tianna Moore and Sekhani Dumezweni.

The 21st Lifetime Achievement Award was jointly awarded to children’s television creators and producers Anne Wood CBE, Founder of Ragdoll Productions (Special BAFTA award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Television) and Andrew Davenport, writer, puppeteer, composer, and actor, specialising in creating television, music and books for young children. Their work together includes global phenomena Teletubbies, magical bedtime programme In The Night Garden, Tots TV and Brum. Their ground-breaking work is loved across the world and continues to create a remarkable impact on the lives of children. The audience were treated to a conversation on stage from Andrew Davenport joined by actor, writer, presenter and ACA Trustee Chris Jarvis. Davenport revealed the working process and incredible creative journey on programmes such as Teletubbies and In the Night Garden. This joint award was accepted by Andrew Davenport on behalf of Anne Wood.

The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to The Story Museum, Oxford by author of How to Train your Dragon and former Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell MBE, who also gave a citation for the museum. On a mission to promote literacy, creativity and wellbeing for children and families, The Story Museum is situated in the heart of Oxford on Pembroke Street. Through immersive exhibitions, gallery spaces, and a dynamic array of events and outreach initiatives, The Story Museum explores the enduring power of stories to both teach and delight. Comprising a series of exhibition spaces, The Story Museum invites visitors to embark on a journey through literary wonders; hear traditional tales in the Whispering Wood; fall down the rabbit hole in the Enchanted Library and meet the dragons in The Treasure Chamber, where 'Here be Dragons’ co-curated by Cressida Cowell and Toothless is currently on display. The Museum is constantly evolving through an active schools and community programme. Since reopening in Spring 2021, The Story Museum has reached nearly 400,000 people through its public programme, school visits, and community outreach.

The Education Award was presented to space scientist Dame Dr Maggie Aderin Pocock PhD. A BAFTA nominated TV presenter, co-hosting the world’s longest-running science television program The Sky at Night. She is also an author of children’s book Am I made of Stardust (Winner - Royal Society Book Prize). Aderin-Pocock frequently gives presentations to children, inspiring them with space science through her own company, Science Innovation Ltd, and educational programmes. Aderin-Pocock is the presenter of Stargazing (CBeebies) and Out of this World (CBBC). Aderin-Pocock works to make complex scientific ideas more accessible for children, encouraging children to ‘reach for the stars’. A key focus of her work is engaging with children from diverse backgrounds to encourage careers in STEM, making complex science accessible and relatable for young audiences.

Founder and Ambassador of Action for Children’s Arts Vicky Ireland MBE said:

At a time when so many children are starved of art, and Britain is losing its cultural future, it is our huge honour to recognise the contribution of wonderful artists for children, through our unique J.M. Barrie Awards. And it is with huge pride that we honour this year’s winners – outstanding artists whose inspirational work proves the transformative power of the arts and cultural education, in nurturing artistry, imagination, compassion and empathy in the lives of our nation’s children.’ We are proud to champion and celebrate these deserving winners, making a difference in the lives of children age 0 and beyond, striving to inspire children's imagination through play and self-discovery.

The 20th anniversary of the J.M. Barrie Awards recognised the contributions of luminaries Michael Foreman OBE, RDI and Sir Frank Bowling OBE, RA, alongside children’s arts dynamo and Deaf actress, Stephanie Bailey-Scott. The 20th anniversary of the J.M. Barrie Awards took place on November 7th, 2024 at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.

ACA Ambassador and Founder Vicky Ireland MBE:

Over the past 20 years it has been our charity’s honour to recognise the contribution of so many wonderful artists for children, through our unique J.M. Barrie Awards. And it is with huge pride that we honour this year’s winners – three outstanding artists whose inspirational work proves the transformative power of the arts and cultural education, in nurturing creativity, artistry, imagination and empathy in the lives of our nation’s children.

Multi-award-winning author and illustrator Michael Forman OBE, RDI received the J.M. Barrie Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to children’s arts, across his prolific career spanning over 250 books as either illustrator, author or both. He has collaborated with Michael Morpurgo and Terry Jones; illustrated authors as varied as Shakespeare, J.M. Barrie, and the Brothers Grimm; and is the author and illustrator of children’s classics War Boy and War Game.

Sir Frank Bowling OBE – hailed as one of the foremost British artists of his generation, and the first black artist to be elected to the Royal Academy of Arts – was presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award - the award was collected by his son Ben Bowling. This award is in recognition of his Circa Pipeline project, developed to mark his 90th Birthday in 2024.

Sir Frank says, ‘It’s not just about making art; it’s about making sure [children] feel empowered to create, no matter what. Let’s spark that fire early on.’

Stephanie Bailey-Scott – actress, theatre maker and workshop leader – was the recipient of the Education Award, which recognises individuals for their direct contributions to children’s arts education and mentorship, demonstrating their commitment to go above and beyond for their communities and nurturing lifelong passions for the arts.

Stephanie is Participation, Access & Inclusion officer at Taking Flight Theatre Company, where she works to connect young Deaf people to Deaf role models from diverse cultures and experiences, increasing their confidence; broadening their networks; and helping them to build their futures in the arts and beyond. Taking Flight makes bold, unusual theatre productions with Deaf, disabled, non-disabled and neurodiverse performers. Stephanie also works for Taking Flight Youth Theatre (Wales’ only youth theatre for Deaf and hard of hearing people) as lead facilitator. Herself Deaf and disabled, Stephanie is also known for her stylish walking sticks!